For the senior defensive end from Baton Rouge, it was a bow on an exciting day in which he entered Knoxville for a camp hosted by the Vols and left with an invitation from Butch Jones to play for the program.

“Mainly the way they treated me when I was up there [stood out to me],” Roach told InsideTennessee. “The way the campus stood out to me, the way I interacted with the players. Just the hospitality, the way I felt when I was up there.”

Roach is no stranger to southern hospitality. The Louisiana native and Scout three-star prospect has already racked up offers from more than 20 schools and spent the summer traversing the South looking at potential suitors.

Despite living in the backyard of the Tigers, Roach doesn’t feel any pressure to stay in-state and is looking at all his options after releasing a top 11 July 29 that included Tennessee.

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“I don’t really feel any pressure to stay home,” he told IT. “I really just want to go to whatever school wants me the most.”

There are plenty who fit the bill. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior said Texas Tech, N.C. State, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Arkansas are courting him the hardest while he sorts through his offers.

Roach plans on taking an unofficial visit back to Rocky Top Oct. 10 for Tennessee’s matchup against Georgia, and until that time is working to better his on-field play for Madison Preparatory Academy.

“I think I just want to work on playing with good pad level, working on my motor on the field,” Roach said. “I want to get faster and stronger.”

The No. 5-ranked defensive end in Louisiana doesn’t have a set date that he wants to make a commitment and could wait it out until the very end. In the meantime, he’ll continue sifting through his options and hoping to find the perfect fit where he feels both comfortable and wanted.

“I might commit during the season sometime,” Roach said. “If I don’t commit during the season, I’ll probably commit on signing day.”